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MEXICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY, 



CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY. 



[From The New York Herald, May 30th, 1893.] 

The Central and South American Telegraph Company and the Mexican Telegraph Company, known as the " via Galveston " 
route, are American corporations and are operated in unison, and through their connections with the Western Union Telegraph 
Company and the twelve Atlantic cables, control to a large extent, the telegraphic traffic between Europe and the United 
States, Mexico and Central and South America. 

These lines have been established so quietly that many of our readers will undoubtedly be surprised to know that 
American enterprise and capital amounting to ^10,000,000 have established a system of telegraphy connecting the United 
States with seventeen different nationalities " via Galveston." 

Their system of ocean cables comprises 9020 miles of submarine cable and 1800 miles of land lines. Messages are 
often transmitted between Buenos Ayres, Argentina and London, England, within an hour, and between the city of Mexico 
and London frequently within fifteen minutes. 

The establishment of these lines has been carried out in the most thorough and business-like manner. The lines of 
both companies have been built for cash, and, unlike many enterprises, instead of having a large indebtedness, both companies 
have a large and increasing surplus derived from earnings, and are free from all bonded and other debt. 

Operations of the Companies. 

The following figures, showing the operations of the companies, will be of interest : 

The receipts of the Mexican Telegraph Company from March, 18S1, to December, 1892, inclusive, were $3,215,299; 
expenses, $783,988 ; dividends, 51,544,991, and surplus, $886,319. 

The receipts of the Central and South American Telegraph Company from October, 1882, to December 31, 1892, were 
$5,109,509 ; expenses, 81,654,949 : dividends, $2,259,844, and surplus, $1,194,715. 



As the tariffs, of the companies are on a gold basis their dividends will always be in gold. In a report made by the 
Company's engineer and electrician in November, 1887, he says : 

"Our cables have now been laid for, say, five years, and I do not think there is in any other part of the world a stretch 
of 3000 knots of cable enjoying an equal immunity from interruptions. The cables are electrically and mechanically excellent, 
and are laid for the most part over such a thoroughly good bottom that deterioration is a factor so small that I do not 
think it need be taken seriously into account. As to the weak links, but few have so far shown themselves, and links that can 
hold out for over five years are not very weak. Traffic must continue to increase, and an extension of our system cannot fail to 
be remunerative." 

As to the durability of submarine cables, the following will be of interest to our readers : 

Perhaps the most remarkable history of an ocean cable is that of the Light Cable, laid in 1853, between England and 
Holland. It was picked up in 1859, and part of it was used for the Isle of Man Cable, where it remained until 1885. It was 
taken up and relaid in 1886, in the Hebrides, where it is now doing as good work as forty years ago. 

The cable laid between England and Dieppe, France, in 1861, is still working. Therefore it can be fairly claimed that the 
durability of submarine cable property is unsurpassed by that of any other commercial plant, be it railways, bridges, steamships 
or machinery. 

In the Hands of Experienced Men. 

The management of the lines of these two companies has from the beginning been in the hands of experienced and practical 
men. The promoter and president — James A. Scrymser — was also the leader in the establishment of the Florida and Cuba 
Cable, laid in 1866, which was subsequently extended throughout the West Indian Islands, and, as is well known, is the most 
profitable piece of telegraph property in the world. It was the success of that scheme that suggested to President Scrymser the 
"via Galveston" route to Mexico, Central and South America. 

It required faith and pluck to overcome the many discouragements certain to arise in distant lands and in unknown ocean 
depths, and many predicted insurmountable obstacles. It is true great difficulties had to be overcome, and that they were 
overcome is evidenced by the very remarkable financial exhibit previously referred to, which shows, unlike many schemes in 
Wall Street that are made attractive by pools and extra dividends, that the policy of these companies has been to pay liberal 
dividends and place to reserve sufficient of their earnings to meet all contingencies. This policy brought into the companies a 
most conservative and wealthy class of shareholders, a class of investors who are not influenced by the speculative events of the 
Stock Exchange. 



Progress of Submarine Telegraphy. 

The progress that has been made during the past few years in the science of submarine telegraphy is very remarkable. A 
few years ago work of this kind was confined to a few men whose experience was limited to that of laying the early Atlantic 
cables. Since that time every department of the work, from the beginning of the manufacture of the cable to its successful 
laying, is carried on by a staff of scientific men so efficient that a contract for thousands of miles of cable laid and guaranteed 
can be accomplished with the same ease that one would purchase a suit of clothes. 

It was on July 26 last that a contract was made between the Central and South American Telegraph Company and the 
India Rubber, Gutta Percha. and Telegraph Works Company, Limited, of London, for the manufacture of 2622 miles of cable 
' to be laid on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, Central and South America, and it is a surprising fact that this 2622 miles of cable 

was manufactured in London and laid in the Pacific Ocean within the short space of nine months and twenty-two days. 

While the cable was being manufactured, deep sea soundings were taken upon the route on which the cable is laid, and an 
analysis made of the specimens taken from the ocean bottom, which was found to be unusually good. The cable lays on a 
remarkably even and safe bottom, at 'an average depth of about 1200 fathoms. The laying of this 2622 miles of cable completes 
a double line from Galveston, Texas, to Buenos Ayres, Argentina. 

The Central and South American Telegraph Company's twin screw steamer " Relay," equipped with all the most modern 
improvements for picking up and repairing cables, is kept in readiness at Callao, Peru, for repairing purposes. 

Steady Reduction in Rates. 

The policy of the "via Galveston " route has always been a most liberal one to the public and the press. It has practically 
a monopoly of direct telegraphic communication between the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. On the 
opening of the lines in 1882 the rate between Peru and London " via Lisbon " was $7.50 per word, and between Argentina and 
London "via Lisbon" it was $9.10 per word, "Buenos Ayres" being counted as two words. The "via Galveston" route has 
steadily developed traffic and reduced rates from these exorbitant charges to $1.23 per word, and promises still further reductions 
as rapidly as the growth of traffic will justify. 

For a company to be in hourly touch with seventeen different nationalities requires the greatest watchfulness and most con- 
siderate and just treatment of all concerned. Notwithstanding the frequent political disturbances in these distant countries the 
affairs of the companies have been so conducted by the managers as to give the greatest satisfaction to governments and customers. 

The companies have a staff of local operators unequalled by any telegraph system elsewhere, and it has been their policy to 
c , guard against sickness at their stations, particularly in the tropics, by building suitable station houses for the accommodation of 

their employees. 

) 3 



The Herald's Exclusive News. 

The commercial working of the companies is so well known by those who use the lines, as to require no comment as to their 
efficiency, but the Herald takes this opportunity to relate its experience. 

It would read like a romance if the Herald should explain in detail how it was enabled to keep the world exclusively 
informed from hour to hour of the progress of the Congressional Chilian army and its battles about Valparaiso in 1891. Foreign 
Ministers were unable to communicate with their governments, while the Herald reported fully every military and political move 
from hour to hour. 

This was accomplished through the foresight of those in charge of the cable station at Valparaiso, who, anticipating that 
martial law would be declared on the approach of the Congressionalist army, had stretched a wire from the cable office to the 
heights back of Valparaiso. 

All business was suspended in the city of Valparaiso, the streets were patrolled by soldiers who had orders to shoot any one 
seen outside of a doorway, and yet the Herald, through the means of this special wire, kept the world fully informed as the 
battles progressed, and was the first to report the victory of the Congressional party. In fact, that victory was known in New 
York and London through the Herald before it was known in Santiago de Chili, eighty miles from Valparaiso. 

Efficiency of the Service. 

Through the courtesy of the Officers of the Central and South American Telegraph Company the Herald is enabled to 
publish the following letters bearing on the efficiency of the service during the Chilian war : 

" U. S. Flagship San Francisco, 

"San Francisco, CaL, Nov. 19, 1891. 

"James A. Scrymser, Esq., President Central and South American Telegraph Com- 
pany, Nos. 37 and 39 Wall Street, New York : 

" Dear Sir — On behalf of the Captain and Officers of this ship, and for myself 
personally, I desire to express to you our high appreciation of your kindness in extend- 
ing to us the free use of your cable for personal and family messages. In doing this 
you could not possibly have realized how many you helped to make happy by your 



courtesies extended to us and our loved ones at home. Your kindness will ever be 
remembered. 

" Mr. Baker, at Barranco ; Mr. Turner, at Valparaiso, and Mr. Atherton, at 
Iquique, were polite at all times, and your company is fortunate in having such 
representatives on the south coast. 

" The perfect accuracy with which the operators in your offices received and 
transmitted the very difficult cipher code of the Navy caused frequent commendation 
from those officers whose duty it was to translate them. 

"Trusting that it may be in my power to reciprocate at some future time, 

" I remain, yours very truly, 

"GEORGE BROWN, 
" Rear Admiral U. S. N., Commanding U. S. Naval force, Pacific Station." 

" U. S. S. Baltimore, 

"Valparaiso, Chili, Dec. 10, 1891. 

"My Dear Mr. Turner: I will sail in the next day or two for the United 
States, but before leaving I wish to say to you, as the Agent of the Central and South 
American Telegraph Company, that I have experienced the greatest satisfaction in 
the accuracy and rapidity with which the large number of cipher dispatches have 
been sent and received through the office under your control at this place, and I can 
sincerely compliment the company in having such capable, skillful and polite operators. 

" None of the messages sent or received has required repetition or correction, 
and this is an achievement of which you may justly feel satisfied, particularly in handling 
a cipher such as that used by the Navy Department. 

" Very truly yours, 

"W. S. SCHLEY, Captain, Commanding. 
" The Agent of the Central and South American Telegraph Company, Valparaiso, Chili. " 



" U. S. S. San Francisco, 

"San Francisco, Nov. 19, 1891. 
"James A. Scrvmser, Esq.. President, &c. : 

"Dear Sir — Permit me to thank you most heartily in my own name and in 
that of *the junior officers of this ship for the inestimable privilege you extended to us 
of telegraphing to our families during our recent sojourn on the coast of South America. 
It was this alone that made it bearable for many of us during quite a trying time, and 
I can assure you had it been necessary to defend the interests of your company it would 
have been done with great satisfaction by the officers of the ' San Francisco.' 

" Thanking you again for your liberality and consideration, which I was quite 
prepared for by my previous experience when in charge of the Hydrographic Office, 

" I am, very gratefully yours, 

"GEORGE L. DYER, Lieutenant, U. S. N." 

Courtesies Extended. 

The Mexican and Central and South American Telegraph Companies continue their liberal policy, as evidenced recently in 
extending to the Argentine and Brazil Naval Officers the free use of their line for family and social messages while here partici- 
pating in the naval festivities. The Western Union Telegraph Company has also co-operated in extending these courtesies. 

Through the " via Galveston " route the Herald has been enabled to keep the world fully informed of the exciting political 
and financial events, particularlv in Chili, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela, and can bear testimony to the splendid working of 
the " via Galveston " lines. 

Submarine Cables of the World. 

There are 130,583 miles of Submarine Cables owned and operated by Incorporated Companies, representing a capital of 
$182,392,620. There are besides 15,252 miles of Submarine Cables owned and operated by Government Administrations. 

6 



The Central and South American Telegraph Company. 



Elsewhere in the Herald this morning is announced the opening of the Central and South American Telegraph Company's 
duplicate Pacific Cable to South America. 

It is an event of general interest and importance. The system of this company and the Mexican Telegraph Company, 
which are operated in unison under the efficient supervision of President James A. Scrymser, is an American enterprise which 
has brought seventeen republics to the south of us in quick touch not only with the United States, via Galveston, but also with 
Europe by that way and direct. It has been built up with cash and managed with financial success. Although it has had a 
practical monopoly of the telegraph business within its vast domain, the policy of its management has been to give press and 
public an efficient service at reasonable rates. It has greatly lowered the high charges of years ago and promises to reduce 
future rates as a reduction may be warranted by the development of traffic. 

The value to the world of this great telegraphic system of submarine cables and lines can hardly be overestimated. The 
countiies to the south of us comprise more than fifty million people. They have a yearly commerce valued at a billion dollars. 
The telegraphic communication which brings them in quick touch with the United States and Europe cannot fail to promote 
not only financial and commercial prosperity all around, but also peace and friendly relations. The telegraph, even more than 
railway and steamer, is an agency of civilization and international progress. 

Our readers have special reason to appreciate the Central and South American and Mexican Telegraphic service. With it 
as an agency the Herald has been enabled to give to the world daily the news gathered by its ubiquitous correspondents on the 
South American continent. Foreseeing the importance of that news field, it was not only the first journal to establish, but has 
been the only one to maintain a special service there! To say that the governments and press, as' well as the reading public of 
both America and Europe have depended on its despatches for South American news, is simply to state a fact universally known 
and recognized. In these despatches has been written for the world the important history of the day as it has been made in 
the ever active republics to the south of us. 

That this history has been important and exciting is shown by the stirring events that have lately succeeded one another 
in rapid succession in Chili, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Nicaragua and other South and Central American countries. That 






'i 



it has been eagerly read and valued is attested by the rare tributes which have been paid to the promptness and efficiency of the 
Herald's news service by the press and government officials of two hemispheres, and also by special testimonials such as any 
journal seldom has the good fortune to receive. 

Among these last will be remembered the high compliment paid the Herald by the successful revolutionary leader, General 
Crespo, when he chose its columns through which to address the world in the name of Venezuela ; by the business men of New 
York engaged in the South American trade when they formally thanked the Herald " for the manner in which it defied press 
censorships and surmounted every obstacle to furnish its readers with news vastly more trustworthy than the official bulletins," 
and by the French Academy of Sciences when it declared unprecedented the publication in our European editions on Monday 
morning of a full report of the eclipse observations made twenty hours before on the summit of the Chilian Andes. 

These signal journalistic achievements have been rendered possible by the Central and South American and the Mexican 
telegraphic service "via Galveston." 

Editorial 3^ew York Herald, cMayjotli, /Spj. 




t «JJj«« 11( "T§» is a com P a , rison of the average time occupied in the transmission of messages for the past year between 
Te?e"fp"" o"L*e" en ° S ^ ™ GalveSt °» and ™ U-bon, as timed and reported by The^ Inglo American 

via Galveston. ed ^^ tim6S ^ "* ^ aV6rage tim6S ' MMy messa S es are transmitted considerably within an hour 



Date. 
1894. 

August .... 7th, 
August. • . . 21st, 
September. 4th, 
September. 18th, 
October . . . 2d, 
October.. . . 16th, 
October. . . . 30th, 
November. 15th, 
November.. 27th, 
December .nth, 

1895. 
January.. . . 4th, 
January . . . 22d, 
February.. 6th, 
February .19th, 
March. - .5th, 
March. . ..19th, 

April 2d, 

April 17th, 

May 2d, 

May 15th, 

May 28th, 

June 13th, 

June 25th, 

J ul Y 9th, 

J ul y 23d, 

August.. . . 6th, 



TIME 
Via Galveston. Via Lisbon. 



63m 50s 

92m 00s 

49m 56s 

70m 42s 

106m 38s 

102m 12s 

121m 33 

67m 59s 

67m 57s 

nom .52s 

69m 25s 
79m 56s 
73m 50s 
60m 50s 
92m 45s 
88m 41s 
60m 25s 
75m 10s 
81m 38s 
57m 4 s 
89m 24s 
65m 24s 
119m 48s 
78m 52s 
57m 30s 
71m 24s 



58m 


00 s 


J S3m 


30s 


61m 


00s 


43m 


30s 


72m 


00s 


55m 


00s 


86m 


00s 


128m 


00s 


nom 


00s 


101m 


00s 


142m 


00s 


95 m 


00s 


94m 


00s 


1 08m 


00s 


167m 


00s 


72m 


00s 


95m 


00s 


77m 


00s 


76m 


00s 


87m 


00s 


107 m 


00s 


210m 


00s 


64m 


00s 


138m 


00s 


137m 


00s 


267m 


00s 



Difference. 

5m 50s 
61m 30s 
11m 04s 
27m 12s 
34m 38s 

47m I2S 
35m 3S 
60m OIS 
42m 03s 

9m 52s 



Average time of transmission 



72m 35s 
15m 04s 

20m IOS 
47m IOS 

74m 15s 

16m 41s 

34m 35S 
im 50s 
S m 38s 

29m 56s 

17m 36s 
144m 36s 

55m 48s 

59m 08s 

79m 30s 
195m 36s 

Via Lisbon Route, 
Via Galveston Route, 



In Favor Of. 

Via Lisbon. 
Via Galveston. 
Via Lisbon. 



Via Galveston. 
11 (i 

Via Lisbon. 
Via Galveston. 



Via Lisbon. 
Via Galveston. 

Via Lisbon. 
Via Galveston. 



Via Lisbon. 
Via Galveston. 



108 minutes. 
80 minutes. 



In favor of the Galveston Route, 28 minutes. 



OFFICERS OF THE MEXICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY: 



JAMES A. SCRYMSER, 
WILLIAM GASTON HAMILTON, 
SENOR DON SEBASTIAN CAMACHO, 

SAMUEL C. BLACKWELL, • 
JAMES R. BEARD, 
CLARENCE RAPKIN, 



President. 
Vice-President. 
Resident Vice-President, 

City of Mexico. 
Treasurer. 
Secretary. 
Accountant. 



JOHN E. ALEXANDRE, 
EDMUND L. BAYLIES, 
WILLIAM G. HAMILTON, 



DIRECTORS: 

CHARLES H. MARSHALL 
J. PIERPONT MORGAN, 
PERCY R. PYNE, 



W. EMLEN ROOSEVELT, 
JAMES A. SCRYMSER, 
GEORGE G. WILLIAMS. 



OFFICERS OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY: 



JAMES A. SCRYMSER, 

EDWARD D. ADAMS, - 

SENOR DON SEBASTIAN CAMACHO, 

SAMUEL C. BLACKWELL, 
JAMES R. BEARD, - 
CLARENCE RAPKIN, 



EDWARD D. ADAMS, 

GEORGE S. BOWDOIN, 

T JEFFERSON COOLIDGE, 



President. 
Vice-President. 
Resident Vice-President, 

City of Mexico. 
Treasurer. 
Secretary'. 
Accountant. 



DIRECTORS: 

WILLIAM R. GRACE, 
WILLIAM G. HAMILTON, 
CHARLES LANIER, 



J. PIERPONT MORGAN, 
JAMES A. ROOSEVELT, 
JAMES A. SCRYMSER. 



General Office, 37 and 39 Wall Street, New York. 





VERA CRUZ, MEXICO, FROM THE SEA. 




ORIZABA, MEXICO. 




MEXICAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY'S OFFICE, CITY OF MEXICO. 




CITY OF MEXICO. 




TEHUANTEPEC, MEXICO. 




CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE OFFICE, 
SALINA CRUZ, MEXICO. 






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CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE OFFICE, PANAMA. 





TUMACO RIVER, COLOMBIA. 




■ 



GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR. 




CALLAO BAY, PERU. 




LIMA, PERU. 




CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE OFFICE, BARRANCO, PERU. 





CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO'S CABLE REPAIR STEAMER RELAY. 




IQUIQUE BAY. 




VALPARAISO BAY. 




COCHRANE STREET, VALPARAISO, CHILE. 




TELEGRAPH LINE NEAR SANTA ROSA DE LOS ANDES, CHILE. 




JUNCAL VALLEY, ANDES MOUNTAINS. 




ROUTE OF UNDERGROUND CABLES ACROSS THE ANDES. 




SUMMIT OF ANDES, SUMMER SEASON, ON ROUTE OF UNDERGROUND CABLES, 

ELEVATION 12,750 FEET. 




CANON, ORCONES RIVER. 




MOUNTED LINEMAN OF CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH CO. 




CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICAN TELEGRAPH COS OFFICE AT 
PUENTE DE VACAS, ARGENTINA. 




SOUTH DOCKS, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. 




AVENIDA DE MAYO, FROM THE PLAZA, BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. 











MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY. 



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LIBERTY SQUARE, MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY. 



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The CeW 

United States and Europe 
"Via GALVESTON." 



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173, Calle San Martin, 173, 



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CONDICIONES. 

La Compaftia se rcserva el derecho de rcchazar un telegrama aiin despues de haberse liecho cargo de su trasmisidn, pero en tal caso devolverd al expedidor la cantidad que 
satisfizo para su trasmisidn. Si un telegrama no llegaae A su destino por consecuencia de descuido d negligencia de la Compaftia d de sua einpleados.nuentras que el teldgrama 
se hallaba a su cargo, se devolvera al expedidor la cantidad que hubiese satislecho por su trasmisidn. Sin perjuicio de la devoluci6n de que se hace inerito en la clausula que ante- 
cede, la Compaftia no respondera de las pcrdidas, daftos 6 perjuicios resultanles de la talta de trasmisidn d entrega de un telegrama, d de retraso d error que se verifique en la 
trasmisidn d entrega del mismo, cualquiera que sea la causa que haya motivado tal falta de trasmisidn d de entrain/ atraso 6 error. Para los efectos de estas condiciones la respon- 
sabilidad de la Compania, por motivo dc la trasmisidn dc un telegrama, cesard absolutamente desde el mommjo en que la confie en cualquier punto de su transito a otra red de 
scrvicio, dlineatelegiafica, que sea de propiedad d bajo la direccidn de cualquiera empresa d autoridady6u6 no este* subordinada exclusivamente a la Compania, reservandose al 
efecto el mas umplio podcr, aun cuando el scrvicio de aquella se haga en todo d en parte, en conexidnosi efdre dsta. 

Sirvase trasmitir el anterior telegrama de conformidad con las condiciones precedentes, a la^$Jiale^consiento en someterme. 



Fi-rma del Expedidor,- 



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